Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

Distributive and Procedural Justice: The 2 Theories

What is the difference between distributive and procedural justice? How do world events in your teen years help shape your political views? Authors Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff describe social justice theories in their book The Coddling of the American Mind. They state that distributive justice means that benefits received should be commensurate with the amount of effort or work one puts in, whereas procedural justice is concerned with fair and transparent rules and processes. Keep reading to learn more about distributive and procedural justice theories.

The 15 Best Books About Happiness

Are you trying to find more happiness in your life? Or perhaps you know somebody who could benefit from a little more positivity? With an abundance of material out there, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our 15 favorite books about happiness. We know that not every approach resonates with every person, so we’ve grouped the books together into categories so you can better find what you’re looking for. Whether you want to learn about happiness from a psychological perspective, you want a book that delves into spirituality, or

Reading Philosophy: How to Get Started

Do you want to get into ancient philosophy but are not sure where to start? How is reading old philosophy works (e.g. Plato) different from reading modern philosophy? In their book How to Read a Book, authors Adler and Van Doren provide advice on reading philosophy. Reading philosophy isn’t like most other sciences because it deals with questions that can be answered in the mind. For this reason, the authors provide questions you should be asking while you read and things to consider. Continue reading to learn what Adler and Van Doren have to say about reading philosophy literature.

How to Raise Independent, Antifragile Children

Why is instilling antifragility in children so important? How can you raise your kids to be more independent, rational, and moral? In The Coddling of the American Mind, authors Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff give parenting advice for the modern-day. They believe that kids today aren’t given enough independence and that they need to overcome obstacles in order to become stronger. Keep reading to learn how to instill antifragility and independence in your children.

What Is Shame? Brené Brown Explains in Her TED Talk

What is shame? How can you determine your proneness to shame, guilt, and blame? In her TED Talk, Brené Brown discusses the differences between shame, guilt, blame, embarrassment, and humiliation. Brown also discusses the TOSCA test for determining your proneness to the above emotions. Continue reading for Brené Brown’s take on what shame is.

How to Evaluate a Book and Its Author

Do you want to know the best way to evaluate a book? How should you handle a disagreement with a book’s author? What are the different categories of disagreement? In their book How to Read a Book, authors Adler and Van Doren discuss the steps you should take to evaluating a book. They say that you must first determine whether the author has answered your questions, evaluate the author’s answers, and then try to understand the author’s point of view before arguing with them. Continue reading for more on how to evaluate a book and its author, according to Adler

College Is a Business: Students Are Just Customers

How did colleges start running like businesses rather than educational institutions? What impact has this had on the students? These days, colleges are run more like big businesses than educational institutions. This is because education is so profitable that the administrators started looking at students as customers and valuable assets that need to be catered to or they’ll lose money. Keep reading to learn why college is a business and students are merely customers.

Why Do We Feel Shame & How Can We Overcome It?

Why do we feel shame? What are some healthy methods of handling shame and how can Brené Brown’s advice help? In her TED Talk The Power of Vulneraility, Brené Brown discusses what causes shame, how shame develops from childhood, and provides five methods for handling shame. Only when you overcome shame can you start to embrace wholehearted living. Continue reading for Brené Brown’s discussion about shame.

How Speech Codes Are Threatening Universities

In what ways are speech codes reshaping academic life? Why are professors teaching in an atmosphere of intimidation? In their book, The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff argue that speech codes in universities are damaging free speech on campus. The authors say that college professors are constantly in fear of saying anything wrong or offending a student and so their ability to teach is being impacted. Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of university speech codes.

3 Myths About Vulnerability and Emotional Armor

What are the three most common myths about vulnerability? What is emotional armor and why is it a barrier to wholehearted living? In Brené Brown’s TED Talk, The Power of Vulnerability, she discusses the three myths around vulnerability: that vulnerability is weakness, that shame can be handled in private, and that vulnerability is not necessary to build trust. In order to avoid being vulnerable, many will cloak themselves in emotional armor, which prevents them from living wholeheartedly. Continue reading for more information about the vulnerability myths and emotional armor.